The first day of the year is not a moment too soon to imagine how you'll spend your precious travel time in 2012. Maybe you want to be sure you get the most bang from your vacation dollars. Maybe you want to see more of the world, of the Southwest, of Arizona.

The first day of the year is not a moment too soon to imagine how you'll spend your precious travel time in 2012. Maybe you want to be sure you get the most bang from your vacation dollars. Maybe you want to see more of the world, of the Southwest, of Arizona.

The first day of the year is not a moment too soon to imagine how you'll spend your precious travel time in 2012. Maybe you want to be sure you get the most bang from your vacation dollars. Maybe you want to see more of the world, of the Southwest, of Arizona.

The first day of the year is not a moment too soon to imagine how you'll spend your precious travel time in 2012. Maybe you want to be sure you get the most bang from your vacation dollars. Maybe you want to see more of the world, of the Southwest, of Arizona.

Mesa Verde National Park, established 100 years ago this summer to preserve the now-famous pre-Columbian ruins, the largest in the USA, raises as many questions as it answers and the questions are taking center stage as the park celebrates the anniversary with an unprecedented series of special lectures, activities and tours.

Colorado's Mesa Verde was the very first national park created to preserve man-made wonders ancient cliff dwellings, made from sandstone, perched on ledges at elevations of 7,000 feet. The park's centennial is being observed this year with festivals, lectures and access to sites that have been closed to the public for decades.